EnglandVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August 2023 | 12:00 pm | Women's World Cup | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Lionesses Maul China To Top Group D
Pre-tournament favourites England topped Group D after blowing China away 6-1 courtesy of a brace of wonder goals by Lauren James.
Further goals from Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly sealed a third consecutive win for the Lionesses but this one was by far the most convincing.
England needed a point to ensure top spot but got off to a blistering start to mount pressure on a vulnerable looking China defence.
Alessia Russo scored her first goal of the tournament as England took the lead inside four minutes.
Milly Bright’s interception sparked the counterattack and after Lauren Hemp put a great ball into the box, James fed the Arsenal striker who guided the ball calmly into the net.
Bright made another fantastic intervention and launched another surge forward as James fed Hemp, who slid the ball into the net past a helpless Zhu Yu and made it 2-0.
Moments before half time it was three as a free kick on the right by Alex Greenwood was cut back inside deep to the unmarked James and the Chelsea attacker curled the ball into the bottom left corner.
It was an incredible period for James as she then scored her second goal with a carbon copy of the first as she picked up the ball from a corner and with one thing in her mind, curled the ball into the top right corner.
However, the goal was cruelly ruled out as Lucy Bronze was deemed to be offside in the build up by the VAR.
China needed a response and made an ideal start to the second half.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps did well to get down to her left and push Wu Chengshu's shot wide.
But from the resulting corner, pinball in the box occurred and after a VAR intervention Bronze was deemed to have handled in the area, a penalty was given.
England conceded for the first time in the tournament as Wang Shuang sent Earps the wrong way with a cooly taken spot kick.
However, Jess Carter picked out James at the back post and England’s star volleyed the ball into the net with a composed finish.
Substitute Kelly made it five as a defensive mix up for China meant she pounced on an empty net.
And there was still time for a sixth as Daly rifled home.
Timeline
| 4' | 23. Alessia Russo | |
| 26' | 11. Lauren Hemp | |
| 42' | 10. Lauren James | |
| 46' | Georgia Stanway Laura Coombs | |
| 56' | 2. Lucy Bronze | |
| 77. Wang Shuang | 57' | |
| 66' | 10. Lauren James | |
| 71' | Lucy Bronze Niamh Charles | |
| 71' | Lauren Hemp Chloe Kelly | |
| 71' | Alessia Russo Bethany England | |
| Li Mengwen Wu Haiyan | 75' | |
| Wang Shuang Gu Yasha | 75' | |
| 77' | 9. Chloe Kelly | |
| 81' | Lauren James Ella Toone | |
| 84' | 9. Rachel Daly | |
| Yao Lingwei Dou Jiaxing | 90+5' | |
| Lou Jiahui Wang Linlin | 90+11' | |
| Chengshu Wu Shen Mengyu | 90+5' |
Ground
| Hindmarsh Stadium |
|---|
| Coopers Stadium, Manton Street, Hindmarsh, Adelaide, City of Charles Sturt, South Australia, 5007, Australia |
Ben Jaycock
I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.
Full time: England 6-1 China
Shen Mengyu takes a right footed shot from the left side of the box that sails high and wide to the right.
Laura Coombs takes a right footed shot from outside the box that misses to the left.
China subs: Shen Mengyu replaces Wu Chengshu and Dou Jiaxing replaces Yao Lingwei.
Fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of 11 additional minutes.
Goal stands and it's six for England.
VAR check for another possible offside.
England make it six as Rachel Daly is fed by Chloe Kelly and the wing back blasts the ball into the net. Awesome attack by England.
England sub: Lauren James is replaced by Ella Toone.
China subs: Wu Haiyan replaces Li Mengwen and Gu Yasha replaces Wang Shuang.
A mistake at the back for China leads to substitute Chloe Kelly facing an open net and she cooly slots home.
England subs: Chloe Kelly, Bethany England and Niamh Charles are all coming on for England as Sarina Wiegman takes off Lauren Hemp, Lucy Bronze and Alessia Russo.
Lauren James take a bow! This time it won't be disallowed as Jess Carter picks out James at the back post and England's star volleys the ball into the net with a great composed finish.
It is a different China half this side. Yang Lina strikes at goal from 25 yards out and it is just over Mary Earps goal, although the England keeper looked to have it covered anyway.
England concede for the first time in the World Cup as Wang Shuang sends Earps the wrong way with a cool and calm penalty.
Lucy Bronze is judged to have handled in the area and China are awarded the spot kick.
VAR check for a possible China penalty.
China's first attempt on target, but Mary Earps, as she has every time she has been called on this tournament, gets down well to her left to push Wu Chengshu's shot wide. It's a very good save indeed as the ball zipped up just in front of the England keeper.
China go so close to getting a goal back and will rue a huge miss.
Laura Coombs wins a free-kick and Alex Greenwood takes it but Lucy Bronze, once again attacking from deep, isn't tall enough to connect and the ball just goes over her head.
England sub: Laura Coombs replaces Georgia Stanway.
A rare error from Lucy Bronze, giving the ball away and that enables Lou Jiahui to run at goal, but she doesn't have the pace to pull clear and England manage to get bodies back and clear.
We're back underway,
Half time: England 3-0 China
No goal as Lucy Bronze is deemed to be offside in the build up.
Hold your horses. Possible offside check by VAR.
Lauren James has done it again! The corner breaks for the Chelsea attacker outside the box and she picks the ball up and with one thing in her mind curls the ball into the top right corner.
Another corner for England.
Good work from Russo down the right results in England winning a corner.
The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of four additional minutes.
A break in play as Rachel Daly is down injured.
China have a good break down the left and a ball into the box by Li Mengwen just evades Chengshu Wu.
China have a corner after a block by Jess Carter.
What a finish! A free kick by Alex Greenwood is perfectly weighted to Lauren James, who is unmarked on the edge of the area and the midfielder curls it into the bottom left corner.
Another free kick in a dangerous position for China to defend.
China clear their lines at the corner.
Another ball to the back post is headed by Stanway and Zhu Yu tips the ball over the bar for an England corner.
All England, their physicality on the ball is too much for China who can't get near them.
Rachel Daly puts a pin point ball into the box and Lucy Bronze has a header on goal that hits the post. Her shot on the rebound just goes wide.
Wonderful run and turn by Lauren Hemp but Yao Wei comes to China's rescue with a vital block.
China have a corner but England comfortably clear their lines.
This time Lauren Hemp makes no mistake as the Lionesses fast start is excellent. Bright steps in and intercepts to launch the attack once more and Lauren James feeds Hemp who slides the ball into the net past Zhu Yu.
China get into the penalty area and cause some problems for England, before Millie Bright is well placed and able to launch a high ball to safety when under pressure. England yet to concede in this tournament so far and looking solid once again.
England get a free-kick 30 yards out, but decide to play it short and then knock it wide, but it is wasted, with China able to clear when the ball sent into the penalty area would've been the better option.
China are just being swamped by England white shirts. They just can't seem to connect passes.
Excellent move by England as Stanway picks out Russo and her ball into the middle picks out Hemp but a vital intervention by the China defence puts the attacker off.
Katie Zelm and Georgia Stanway are linking up brilliantly in the midfield.
A good ball in by Alessia Russo just evades her England teammates and is punched clear by Zhu Yu.
England continue to pile pressure on China in this bright start by the Lionesses.
Alessia Russo ends her goalscoring drought with a smart finish after Milly Bright sparked the counterattack. Lauren Hemp puts a great ball in, and after Lauren James heads it to the Arsenal striker, Russo dispatches the ball into the left corner.
Partisan crowd in Adelaide for China in this final Group D encounter. England need a point to ensure qualification and a win seals top spot.
We're underway.
Teams are out and play is set to get underway shortly.